5:30 pm Saturday Afternoon Weather Update For Western & Central Mass

An area of strong to severe thunderstorms are currently located from near Goshen south and southwestward to Huntington and Blandford. These thunderstorms are moving towards the east at a forward speed of 30 mph. These thunderstorms have already had a history of causing downed trees and power lines in Lenox.

It is expected that these strong to severe thunderstorms will impact the middle and lower Pioneer Valley, including the Springfield Metro by 5:45-6 pm or so.

These strong to severe thunderstorms will then push eastward reaching areas from the eastern Hilltowns of Western Mass into the western Worcester Hills, including Belchertown, Ware, Palmer, Monson, Warren and Brimfield by about 6:30 pm or so.

Much of, if not all of Worcester County is then be affected by these strong to severe thunderstorms starting in the western Worcester Hills by 6:30 pm & then reaching the Worcester Metro & the I-190, I-395 & I-290 corridors by around 7 pm or so. Far eastern and southeastern parts of Worcester County could then be affected by these thunderstorms by around 7:30 pm or so.

Again, some of these thunderstorms will be on the strong to severe side & be capable of producing wind gusts of up to 50-65 mph, torrential downpours with localized flooding & extremely frequent lightning.

More updates will be sent out as needed.